“We implemented the emergency brake policy [full PSBB] for about a month because the number of cases was increasing out of our control. After the number of new cases became more stable, we started to release the brakes slowly, step by step,” Anies said in a written statement on Sunday.

The transitional period will last at least until Oct. 25.

Anies said the decision was based on the number of daily new cases, the daily mortality rate and the trend of total active cases that has flattened during the past few weeks, as well as the increased hospital capacity for COVID-19 patients.

Jakarta imposed the PSBB policy for the first time in April, mandating that all places of worship remain closed, while malls and markets were allowed to open for shoppers needing to purchase their daily needs and companies were required to get an Industrial Ministry permit to operate.

The infection curve flattened as a result and the administration began a transitional phase by reopening houses of worship and other public premises in June.

Without the proper implementation of health protocol, however, the numbers of cases and deaths began to rise again, forcing the Jakarta administration to reimpose PSBB measures on Sept. 14.

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